Ponytail Pals

A new line of little-girl-chic hair accessories combines the ease of creating fun hairdos with the cuteness of cuddly stuffed animals.

Recently introduced at the ENK Children’s Club trade show in New York, Ponytail Pals is a collection of ponytail holders that feature adorable little stuffed animal accouterments. The collection is created for girls ages infant to 12, who are thrilled with the 14 different cuddlies, which include a bunny, chick, lamb and more – a fun find for any little one’s Easter basket.

The heart of this brand captures that innocence and uninhibited imagination through playful, amusing accessories that bear elements of surprise, whimsy and delight.

Celebrating Girlhood. Designer Lisa Moy developed Ponytail Pals after searching for cute hair designs for her nieces. Fun to give as gifts, for special occasions and for every day, Ponytail Pals celebrate girlhood. “These ponytail holders become little buddies and trusted companions,” Lisa says, “so they will be invited to the next tea party and all the other fun things little girls love to do with their pals.”

Kid-at-Heart Style. Lisa’s journey into children’s accessories started with a passion for design and a love for kids and animals. Through her graphic design firm Moy Creative, she has put her unique visual style to work in annual reports and brochures, corporate videos and advertising campaigns. Walk into her Milwaukee-based design studio and you see her playful personality interpreted through her whimsical interior design style. With beloved rescue dogs Buddy, Chester and Jeff by her side, designing a Ponytail Pals line for girls was a natural transition which enables her to bring together all the things that she loves most.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Samantha Conner Designs

From Stay-at-Home Mom to Work-from-Home Mompreneur, this spunky Texas-based designer is making it in the USA.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Samantha Conner has always had a passion for creating beautiful things. So after her first child was born prematurely and she needed to stay home, her passion took an unexpected turn.

Six years after selling her first hair bow at local craft fair -a hobby she started during her children’s nap time that blossomed into a successful home business- she’s taking her love of fun fabric combinations and bright style to the next level, and launching her own girls clothing line.

Made in the USA. Beautiful clothing and hair accessories for girls size 2T-6, Samantha Conner Designs (SCD) is a fresh take on girl’s fashion, featuring bold pattern, rich colors and lots of playful details. Created with what Samantha describes as “the busy girl” in mind, her first collections embody the idea that style and comfort go hand-in-hand. Her two daughters inspire her designs -and now, she’s noticed even they have an eye for fabric, and are learning to sew!

Manufactured locally in Garland, TX, SCD recently launched wholesale at the Dallas Market Center and is available in children’s boutiques all over the US and online. She continues to maintain a custom handmade shop at Etsy.com. Future plans for SMD include growing the business through online sales and local trunk shows.

If I can do it, then anyone can. I feel lucky that I have had the opportunity to pursue my passion. I hope that I can help others do the same by sharing my story.

Crafty Texas Girls. Want to know more about how you can live an inspired, creative life? Follow Samantha’s blog, Crafty Texas Girls, where she documents her journey of balancing motherhood, creativity and running a small business, following her dreams and turning a hobby into a thriving business.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today! SCD Photography by Erin Morman of Splendor Photography and Kristis Mills Photography.

Pink Elephant Bowtique

Fabulous bows, headbands, photography props and other handmade couture baby things & accessories for all ages.

Etsy love. Do you ever search high and low for beautiful things to use at picture taking time? The Pink Elephant Bowtique specializes in handmade couture accessories for you and your little one, that are unique enough to add flair to any photograph, too!

Owner, maker, designer, curator, sometimes photographer and shipper Meghann Herter loves to customize any order, “So please don’t hesitate to ask us to design one especially for you,” she says. A work at home mom to two beautiful girls, Meghann found it hard to find quality, handmade baby accessories for her first daughter, so she began making headbands and bows herself –later offering them on her very own Etsy boutique.

I hand make each item myself and take pride in offering quality products that can be worn for years to come. It’s my goal to make your Etsy buying experience the most enjoyable experience it can be.

Touché! Current turnaround is approximately five to 10 business days prior to shipping (not including weekends or holidays). Please note: The Pink Elephant Bowtique is now closed for Christmas. Check back in after the New Year.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Ruby’s Closet aka Sweet Julep’s

Popular girl’s hair accessories company gets a makeover and a name change.

California native Alice Hardin worked as a Hollywood nanny before becoming a mom herself. Her love for children inspires her to design and create pretty hair accessories for girls and more.

Alice’s couture style and eye for quality make her hair bows very desirable among her family and friends … as well as the retailers and customers who shop Ruby’s Closet. Named after her own daughter Ruby, she recently gave the popular brand a makeover, changing the name to Sweet Julep’s this fall.

Whether you purchase a Sweet Julep’s or Ruby’s Closet item, you can be sure you are getting a high quality and fashionable item.

Alice is known for sweet, beautiful and fashionable accessories, such as Kickie Feet, a “barefoot sandal sensation.” Worn on bare feet or over socks, they decorate little piggies with cute blossoms.

New Bling for the Holidays. Sold online, Sweet Julep’s offers free shipping on all orders over $50. The lovely accessories can also be found in children’s boutiques around the world. Great socking stuffers!

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Lily & Momo – Stylish Accessories

What little girl wouldn’t want to accessorize her cute outfit with a stylish owl handbag? Thanks to new company Lily & Momo, she can!

Atlanta, GA-based Lily & Momo specializes in high-quality, handmade accessories for children. The extensive collection of fanciful barrettes, headbands, bows and hair clips –from animals to flowers to stars, rainbows and crowns- are packaged to please using recycled paper and other environmentally friendly materials. There’s even a variety of “clip keepers” to choose from. The embellishments are handcrafted from soft felt in vibrant colors and the working part of the clip is made to stay securely in the hair.

And the kid-sized purses and handbags are a stand-out … in owl, turtle, fish and flower designs that are sure to delight.

I was looking for fun hair accessories for my daughter and found that the market was missing whimsical hair clips for girls. So I developed one -a hip, fashionable line of hair accessories.

Named after her daughter Lily and her son Miles (Momo is his nickname), Sharon Miller and her husband Evan launched the company about one year ago, and Sharon tells me that it’s captured the imagination of the children’s marketplace, growing extremely fast. An adorable addition, I agree! The product design and materials used are safety tested to ensure the highest quality, made with love and care. Available at Nordstrom and children’s shops from Alaska to Connecticut, Canada to South Korea, too.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Wee Ones – a company on the move

Back in 1973, when Barb Agatstein started making bows for her daughter Betsy, little did she know her home-based business would take off, becoming one of the most respected and well-known brands in the girls hair accessories market today.

Classic American Success Story. Missouri-based Wee Ones® makes high-quality hair bows, headbands, clips and other fashionable accessories for babies and young girls. Family-owned and award-winning, the company continues to turn heads for its design excellence, recently adding Sana Shucart as product designer. “Sana has done a lot of different things in the shoe industry,” says CEO Miles Faust, “and she’s excited to learn our business and find ways to apply what she’s learned to help Wee Ones grow.” A product development executive with an impressive track record, Sana is an expert at developing stylish and innovative brands for many major retailers across the country. And she’s excited to be looking at the world of fashion through the eyes of -well- a wee one. “It’s all about creating designs that the Wee Ones girl and all of her friends want to wear,” Sana says.

We believe we have something for every little girl, and moms have looked to us for our selection for almost 40 years.

The Wee Ones Girl Defined. Found in stores all over the U.S., and select retailers in Canada, Mexico, the UK and Korea (as well as the company website), Wee Ones is known for the classic, premium hair bow. The company also designs a line for tweens called Deidra & Kiki, and recently launched a new line for girls ages 10 thru 18 called Apres les Petites, which features sophisticated accessories that move beyond the Wee Ones bow. In addition, Wee Ones distributes Knot Genie, an amazing detangling hair brush for kids.

Big, Bright and Fashionable. Sana and founder Barb Agatstein –who still holds the title of chief design officer- work together closely on all aspects of design and product development. Wee Ones designers spend months studying the seasonal nuances and materials, to offer on-trend designs of the highest quality.

Glitter is our favorite color.

Last year, Wee Ones introduced an exclusive glitter ribbon featured in the WeeSparkle collection, hand-crafted from a unique grosgrain ribbon with a glitter-infused coating that does not rub off. Great for dressing up, dressing down, playgrounds and pools, the WeeSparkle collection comes in show-stopping colors perfect for girls of any age.

For the Fall/ Holiday 2012 season, be on the lookout for glam, glitz and glitter to complement every style, from bows to Banditz -the new fashion craze sweeping the nation.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Dainty Lions – Hot, Young Accessory Line with Celebrity Following

In a snap, mix and match trendy accoutrements to any single headband, hair clip, button or pendant.

About two years ago, Heather Ells invented Dainty Lions™ interchangeable snap accessories after she decides to be a stay at home mom for her little ones. With a degree in elementary education and the inspiration of her daughters, whom she knew she’d be accessorizing for years to come, Heather put her creativity to good use, dreaming up a way to use a snap system in a line of super-trendy interchangeable accessories. After experimenting with multiple prototypes, she launched Dainty Lions, so girls of all ages can “Change it out. Snap it in.” With just one single base accessory and different button or flower snaps, girls can create multiple looks.

What girl doesn’t like a little bling?

Each Dainty Lions product has a snap securely attached, and can be mixed and matched with Dainty Lions headbands, hair ties/wristbands, ties, pendants and bobby pins. What’s more, girls can trade ’em to create even more unique looks.

The product name is inspired by the wishful thinking behind the memory of watching dandelion seeds floating in the air. It not only conjures the magic of childhood, but appeals to moms and grandmothers who treasure its whimsy.

“We sell our line in many small retail shops across the country,” Heather tells me, “and many teens/young adult stars have been wearing them to red carpet and other events.”

Dainty Lions has quite a following on Facebook, where fans can find out about new styles, contests and more –and Heather also keeps them up-to-date on the various charities and foundations she likes to donate to.

Journaling Ideas. I read recently that Heather writes all her new ideas in a journal (love this!) until they’re ready to introduce. Be on the lookout for Double the Dainty, two button snaps or two mini flower snaps on one elastic headband.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Subscription Programs Transform into Fashionable Trend

Monthly subscription programs are a popular way for members to shop products and services at a significant savings.

Everyone loves to be part of something exclusive, which is another way subscription programs have become so popular. From diaper services to high-end shopping clubs, who doesn’t enjoy a customized experience?

Naomi Catalina found this out when she was six months pregnant. While preparing for the birth, she quickly became an expert on not only the best of baby essentials, but what makes a great shower gift, too. Her own baby showers were so special to her that she simply had to act on the special-ness. “I was left with an overwhelming feeling of wanting to make my own contribution to this special time in a woman’s life,” she says.

Wordsation strives to curate artwork from artists who share in our excitement for creating designer baby fashion for your tiny treasure.

Naomi co-founded Wordsation, a recently launched and totally inspired way of offering baby fashion. “We find artists from around the world to create original artwork for our decorated baby apparel,” she says. “We feature new designs every month, available individually or as a year-long subscription as baby grows.”

The exclusive designs adorn one-piece rompers made from 100% cotton rib knit with three reinforced snap closures. Artists with an eye for child-friendly design are selected to take these ordinary clothes and make them extraordinary.

The Wordsation Subscription. Perfect as baby gifts, the Wordsation subscription delivers their exclusive apparel over the course of the first year of baby’s life, decorated with original designs from talented artists Katherine Streeter, Annie Wilkinson, Joel Nakamura and others – how’s that for ooh’s and aah’s? Thank you, Rachel Florio PR, for introducing me to Wordsation.

Members of subscription programs not only enjoy exclusive products, they can do so at huge savings, too. This past March 1, I introduced you to popular children’s accessories brand Itzy Bitzy Designs’ Klippie Klub, a kit-of-the-month subscription program where members receive a themed kit containing exclusive, newly released hair clips- and enjoy a 70% savings off retail.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Mermaid Magic

Finally, the first full day of spring is here! What better way to celebrate than to shop for unique finds?

I’ve recently discovered The Spirit of Mermaids, a beautiful accessory line created by Virginia Beach, VA designer Ashley Gillies. The unique starfish barrettes and Bohemian style leather headbands with beads are inspired by the mysteries of the deep blue ocean.

Natural is beautiful, and there is nothing more natural than real starfish.

“The accessories I make embody girls who live for sunny days and salt on their skin,” Ashley says. “My leather beaded headbands can be worn as headbands or necklaces. I wear them both ways. My line of jewelry is laid back and carefree.” Pinned directly to clothing or hats, her creations can be worn year round to truly show off a beachy personality.

Right now, folks who live in the Virginia Beach, VA area can purchase The Spirit of Mermaids merchandise directly from Ashley (email her at thespiritofmermaids@yahoo.com), who plans to offer the line online as well as in stores. Stay tuned!

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

It’s Love at First Sight – Pink Pewter

Pink Pewter’s newest collection -It’s Love at First Sight- includes new stretch bands, bracelets and jewelry.

Four years ago, hair stylist Mireya Villarreal decides to start a company that makes hair accessories from her own creative point of view, to complement a variety of haircuts and personalities. “We struggled to think of a business name for weeks and weeks,” she tells me, adding that the word ‘pink’ had to be part of it. “We must have gone through 10 sheets of paper writing down ideas. During this process, my daughter -about six years old at the time- kept coming into the room asking if she could use the computer, pronouncing it ‘pewter.'” So, there it is -the aha moment that inspires the name Pink Pewter.

Today, Mireya designs beautiful hair accessories and more. The company’s newest collection -It’s Love at First Sight- includes new stretch bands, bracelets and jewelry. “We provide high style without the high price,” designing wearable things for children “without losing sight of the timelessness and innocence that makes children’s fashion unforgettable.” The new scarf collection for fall can be worn in so many ways that the wearer can personalize the look based on their own style. “It screams ‘Pink Pewter,'” Mireya says. “We only stand behind a design that we truly believe in and aligns with our consumer base perfectly.”

Celebrity Driven and Loving It. Knowing who the fans are is something the company works passionately on, staying on top of the latest fashion trends and fleshing out the Pink Pewter persona as youthful and invigorated. Pink Pewter is known as a celebrity driven brand, frequently participating in event sponsorship and charity red carpet events. “We go to the events ourselves and interact with the stars and their fans on a personal level,” Mireya explains. “People relate to celebrities and align themselves with the values of their favorite role models, which drives credibility to our brand.”

Our brand is expanding into accessories such as belts, scarves, bracelets and jewelry to complete the experience. The key is to have each item complement the other -accessorize an accessory if you will.

Coming Soon. Look for a new tween/teen apparel line that includes trendy shirts and contemporary dresses!

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!